Civil Aviation Ministry cancels Air Odisha’s license

Bhubaneswar: In a major blow to Air Odisha, the Union Civil Aviation Ministry has cancelled the license of the airlines for operations in as many as 50 flight routes owing to its poor performance.

Biju Patnaik International Airport director Suresh Chandra Hota informed, “The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has sent a letter mentioning the termination clause to the airlines. As the airlines has failed to operate 75% of flights in last three months, the notice has been served. I believe the airlines has some problems in procuring aircraft parts.”

It is pertinent to mention that, on September 22, after the inauguration of the Veer Surendra Sai Airport, Air Odisha had operated services from Jharsuguda to Raipur. But soon after allegations of irregularities were brought against the airline, it stopped services completely from October 6.

Sources said the AAI would invite a tender again for interested airlines to operate flights to Jharsuguda after the cancellation of license of Air Odisha.

The airlines was given license to operate flights from Jharsuguda to Bhubaneswar, Ranchi and Raipur under ‘Udey Desh ka Aam Nagarik’ (UDAN) scheme.